the law of selling food at daytime during...

The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication TOJDAC December 2017 Special Edition

Submit Date: 01.09.2017, Acceptance Date: 05.11.2017, DOI NO: 10.7456/1070DSE/119

Copyright © The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication 1452

THE LAW OF SELLING FOOD AT DAYTIME DURING RAMADHAN

(AN ANALYSIS OF ISLAMIC LAW USING USULIYAH APPROACH)

Ansari Yamamah Lecturer at State Islamic University of North Sumatra (UINSU), Medan, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Ramadhan is one of the blessed and priority month so that it becomes the ideal for Muslims to worship,

besides fasting also perform various forms of sunnah worship both in spiritual and in social dimensions,

various dimensions. It is allowed to sell food to the people who are not yet obliged to fast, are unable to

fast or given leniency for not fasting, such as children, women who are menstruating and people who are

sick. And also if the food will be consumed when not fasting, such as for breaking the fast or for having

sahur or selling food and drinks during the daytime of Ramadhan may be the only effort to get some

money to support his family. It is forbidden to sell food to the person who is required to fast when he

knows or think (dzon) that the food will be consumed during the day because this is considered to help

disobedience. If he does not know whether the food will be consumed during the day or not, then the law

is makruh and better not to sell food to that person. That is why some ulemas issued a fatwa to cover the

places of selling food and drink during the fasting month.

Keywords: Al Quran; selling food; Islamic law; Ramadhan

INTRODUCTION

Based on Islamic normative doctrine, the month of Ramadhan is one of the blessed and priority month so

that it becomes the ideal for Muslims to worship, besides fasting also perform various forms of sunnah

worship both in spiritual and in social dimensions, various dimensions. The blessings and virtues of the

month are marked by the opening of the heaven gates and the closing of the hell gates, as mentioned in the

hadith of Imam Muslim from Abu Hurairah No. 1079 which reads:

ين ا جاء رمضان فت حت أبواب الجنة وغل قت أبواب النار وصف دت الشياط

Meaning: "When the month of Ramadhan comes, the doors of heaven will be opened wide and the gates of

hell will be closed and the demons will be shackled".

The hadith is an injection of religious spirit so that Moslems everywhere look disheartened in the nuances

of religiosity and very strong sociological ties. But on the other hands there are some who only are not

fasting but also with the various acts that prevent the coming of the blessing. One example is that they not

only do not fast but openly publicly eat and drink without feeling any regrets or sinful feelings at all. And

so do the non-Moslems because they are inspired by those who do not fast.

In fact, some Moslems partly have been disturbed by the actions of other Moslems who disturb the

tranquility in performing fasting. One example of the act of disturbing some Moslems in carrying out

fasting is that some of other Moslems sell food as well as open places to eat in the form of restaurants,

cafes, rice stalls, cigarettes and so on that operate during the month of Ramadhan, where the purpose is to

provide food and drink to anyone who wants to eat especially during the day of Ramadhan.

It is undeniable that selling and opening food places during Ramadhan at daytime will benefit multiplied

by other months, many factors that cause it to happen, among others, the increasingly consumptive power

of the people during the month of Ramadhan due to the restraining fasting a person from eating and




drinking, so that when approaching the breaking of fast of many Muslims who buy food and drink.

Therefore, many traders are coming up in Ramadhan to gain more profit from other months.

There are several types of sellers, who sell food in Ramadhan, including:

1. Type of seller who sells food from evening special for breaking and eating.

2. Type of seller who sell food from the daytime (selling as usual outside Ramadhan) where to eat in the

lid with a curtain.

Speaking the reasons, there are several reasons for the sellers who sell their food in the middle of the

month especially Ramadhan that sells food in the daytime start:

1. Because it has become a habit of selling food in the day of Ramadhan

2. Because the food stalls have been closed with a curtain so it is not visible from the outside for the

people who fast.

3. Due to the urgent economic factors to keep selling food during the month of Ramadhan.

For some reason the sellers who sell their food during the day during the month of Ramadhan often

assume that selling food in Ramadhan has become a habit and they have honored the fasting person by

closing the meal with the curtain, while it is clear how the law of selling food during the day in

Ramadhan.

On this matter, Shaykh Abdul Muhsin al-A'bbad in Sharah Sunan Abu Dawud issued a fatwa on the law

of trading and selling food on the day of Ramadhan: :1

ال يجوز للمسلم أن يبيع الطعام في نهار رمضان ال للمسلمين وال للكفار.

"It is not permissible for a Muslim to sell food during the day of Ramadhan either to Muslims or to

infidels".

It is clear that there is an ouster for the sellers who sell food during the day of Ramadhan both to Muslims

and to non-believers. So anyhow whether by closing his place of eating with a legal status curtain from

selling food in the daytime in the month of ramadhan still should not be.

The problem in this study is how law status for the sellers who are forced to sell their food because of the

difficulties of economic factors, because the effort to continue his life depends on the results of selling the

food, both in terms of paying rent for the place to eat, tuition fees etc that all depend on the results of

selling food every day to get money. If he does not sell it, they will not be able to meet the needs of his

life because of the difficult economic circumstances.

In this case does the disengagement still apply to the sellers who sell food during daytime in the month of

Ramadhan which is forced to sell because of economic factors? Is there no ruksha or easiness for the

sellers who sell food that forced due to economic difficulties?

Based on the reality that has been described above, the author is interested to examine this issue in a

scientific paper that explores the issue of Food Trade Law Day In the Month of Ramadhan. The Law of

Selling Food at Daytime during Ramadhan.

METHODOLOGY

1 Abdul Muhsin al-Abbad, Syarah Sunan Abi Dawud (Riyadh : King Abdul Aziz, t.t.), Vol. 19, p. 24.




The research methodology conducted by the author in this study is as follows:

a. Types of research

In this study the author uses the sociological juridical approach, namely an approach which is intended to

explain the problems studied with the research results obtained in relation to the rule of law and view life

and reality which is developing in the society. In this case, how the law selling food during daytime in the

month of Ramadhan. The research method used in this study is a qualitative research method that

approaches the procedure of the invention that is conducted not using statistical procedures or

quantification. 2

b. Research Approach

The approach that the author uses in discussing this research is the empirical or sociological approach. The

approach emphasizes on the practice and behavior of Moslems related to Islamic law which in this case is

how the law selling food in the daytime in the month of Ramadhan.

c. Data Source

The data sources that the author uses in this study include the data from the field either through

observation or interview or from the Acts as well as the related literatures.

d. Method of Collecting Data

As the author pointed out that this research is a social research, then the method of collecting data by the

author is through field observation and reviewing the data sources that the author has mentioned above.

e. Research Location

The location of this research conducted is in Medan City. In conducting this research, the author

conducted the data collection by means of observation and direct interviews to the food sellers in 7

districts in Medan City. The results of the interviews can be seen in the following table:

Table 1 .Food Sellers in Medan City

No Sub District Name of Food

Stall

Name of the

Owner

Description Reason

1

Medan Tembung Warung Makan

Fauzi Fauzi

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the

economic difficulty that

forced to keep selling in

the fasting month. If not

selling there will be no

other income

2 Medan Tembung

Bagindo Zulkifli

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

At the time of fasting,

the food is covered with

a curtain to be unseen

for the fasting Moslems

3 Medan Tembung

Bunda H. Salman

Lbs

Closed on the

month of

Ramadhan

11 Months Alah gives

me sustenance, so it is

appropriate that I close

2 Salim dan Sahrum, Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif, (Bandung :Cita Pustaka, 2010), p. 41.




a month in the fasting

month to be able to

worship better

4 Medan Tembung

Putri Balqis Hasan

Mansur

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Selling special foods for

breaking the fast and

having sahur, opens at

4.am

5 Medan Tembung

Cahaya Minang Nurlis

Closed on the

month of

Ramadhan

I am afraid of to be

sinful if I sell the food

to the people who do

not fast

6 Medan Tembung Merapi Jaya Herman

7 Medan Tembung Madinah Iskandar

8 Medan Tembung Mekar Syarifuddin

9 Medan Tembung Aulia Hartono

10 Medan Tembung Hirma Julianto

11

Medan Denai Ampera Jaya Slamet

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

12 Medan Denai

Elok Manja Khairuddin

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan



having sahur

13 Medan Denai

Gumarang Indah Junaidi

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





14 Medan Denai

Uni Marni Marni

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

15 Medan Denai Panyalai Resto Rachmad

16 Medan Denai Elok Manja Hermanto

17 Medan Denai Gumarang Indah Zufri

18 Medan Denai Koki Padang Rusdi

19 Medan Denai Putra Padang Putra

20 Medan Denai Sinar Minang Efrizal

21 Medan Denai Pantai Sunur Amrizal

22 Medan Area

Anugerah Buyung

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





23 Medan Area Uni Er Uni Er

Selling in the

month of

Because of the





Ramadhan forced to keep selling in



other income

24 Medan Area

Widuri Fajar

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

25 Medan Area

Uni Asnah Asnah

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

26 Medan Area

Pondok Salero H. Juned

Knowing the

prohibition of selling

food in the fasting

month, it is no

difference

I subhat if I still sell the

food in the fasting

month

27 Medan Area Fitri Minang Fitri

28 Medan Area Sinar Andalas Roy

29 Medan Area Samo Salero Rustam

30 Medan Area Bendang Khaidir

31 Medan Area Dua Saudara Irfan

32 Medan Area Tiga Saudara Fendi

31 Medan Area Ridho I Ridho

34 Medan Area Serumpun Buk Ida

35

Medan Kota Ampera Muliono

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

36

Medan Kota Warung Makan

Mbak Lina Lina

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

37

Medan Kota Warung Buk

Khadijah Khadijah

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income




38

Medan Kota Talago Jaya Arifuddin

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





39

Medan Kota Lado Mudo Syahria

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





40

Medan Kota Permata Ahmad

Husin

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

41 Medan Kota

Berkah

Makuniang Safrizal

42 Medan Kota Ana Chintiya Ana Chintiya

43 Medan Kota

Talago

Singgalang Haris

44 Medan Kota Padi Boneh

Ahmad

Faisal

45

Medan Amplas Warung Putri Putri

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

46 Medan Amplas

Warung Wak

Ijah Wak Ijah

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

47 Medan Amplas

Warung Dua

Saudara Henri

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

48 Medan Amplas

Warung Tajuk

Kapies Burhan

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

49 Medan Amplas

Uni Nen Uni Nen

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

50 Medan Amplas

Agung Agung

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

51 Medan Amplas Minang Basamo Sofyan

Selling in the

month of






Ramadhan a curtain to be unseen


52 Medan Amplas Padang Bolak Marajoki Srg

53 Medan Amplas Minang Saiyo Rizal Koto

54 Medan Amplas Minang

Kenangan Yusnaidi

55 Medan Amplas Pondok Salero Hendrizal

56 Medan Maimun

Warung

Tanjung Hamidi

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

57 Medan Maimun

Tiara Jaya Tiara

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

58 Medan Maimun

Famili Baru Sugianto

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

59 Medan Maimun

Kak Yus Kak Yus

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

60 Medan Maimun

Buk Srik Buk Srik

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

61 Medan Maimun

Gumarang Syukur

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





62 Medan Maimun

Medan Jaya Agus

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan



having sahur

63 Medan Maimun Semangat

Minang Ahmadi

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

64 Medan Maimun

Minang Surya Zulham

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan








65 Medan Maimun Pondok Gurih Irwansyah

66 Medan Maimun Anugrah Sofyan

67 Medan Maimun Minang Murni Junaidi

68 Medan Maimun Sambal Balado Heru

69 Medan Maimun Garuda Jaya

Rustam

Efendi

70 Medan Maimun Minang Surya Firdaus

71 Medan Maimun Nita Nita

72 Medan Timur

Warung Makan

Nur Khadijah

Nur

Khadijah

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

73 Medan Timur

Warung Nasi

Puja Rudi

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

74 Medan Timur

Restu Bunda Razali

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan



having sahur

75 Medan Timur

Rahmah Jaya Abdul Azis

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan



having sahur

76

Medan Timur Embun Pagi

Hadi

Prayitno

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

77 Medan Timur

Minang Setia Rusli

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





78 Medan Timur

Syukurillah Zulfikar

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

79 Medan Timur

Salero Basamo Hamdani

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





80 Medan Timur

Bg Regar M. Yunus

Srg

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the








other income

81 Medan Timur

Anugrah Aris

Nasution

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan



having sahur

82 Medan Timur

Minang

Maimbau Ambo

Closed on the

month of

Ramadhan

Knowing the


food in the fasting

month

83 Medan

Perjuangan Ajo Sayang Ajo

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





84 Medan

Perjuangan Sinar Minang Adi

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan



having sahur

85 Medan

Perjuangan New Bundo

Kanduang Rahmat

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





86 Medan

Perjuangan Ridho Ilahi Ridho

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





87 Medan

Perjuangan Warung

Maninjau Bg Man

Closed on the

month of

Ramadhan

Knowing the


food in the fasting

month

88 Medan

Perjuangan Cici Minang Herman

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan





89 Medan

Perjuangan

Berkah Hanafi

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

90 Medan

Perjuangan

Warung Bg Juan Juan

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the





other income

91 Medan

Perjuangan

Indra Seno Indra Seno

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan

Because of the








other income

92 Medan

Perjuangan Mato Air Jaya Ridwan

Selling in the

month of

Ramadhan



having sahur

From the table above, it can be known that most of the food sellers in Medan City sell the food during the

daytime of Ramadhan. From the author’s interview with the food sellers, there are several reasons that the

traders sell their food during the day time of the fasting month, namely: The food sellers are forced to sell

their food during the day during the fasting month because of the difficulty of their family's economy that

forced to keep selling food in the fasting month, because if they do not sell then they will not get income

and daily livelihood just selling food no other. The sellers keep their selling food during the daytime of the

fasting month but the food is closed with a curtain, it will not disturb the fasting person. The sellers keep

selling the food in the fasting month but especially just to break the fast and eat it, starting to open their

food stalls at 4 pm.

A small part of the food sellers in Medan City closed for a month during the fasting month for the reason

that for 11 months Allah gives them sustenance, so it should be appropriate to close a month in the month

of fasting to be able to worship better.

The reason that the sellers keep selling food during the daytime of fasting month is because of economic

factors which are the focus point of this research. The food sellers are forced to sell their food during the

daytime of the fasting month because of the difficulty of their family's economy that forced them to keep

selling food in the fasting month, because if they do not sell then they will not get income and their daily

livelihood is just selling food. In this study, it will be seen whether the legal status of the ban on selling

food in the fasting month according to the ulemas applies also to the sellers who keep selling food in the

fasting month because of economic factors.

DISCUSSION

Selling on the Daytime of Ramadhan

Related to buying and selling food conducted by the sellers on the day time of Ramadhan, in general if the

pillars and conditions are met it may be to sell the food, but because the sale is conducted in the month of

Ramadhan then at noon when the Moslems are doing their fasting and the conditions is being limp so that

if there is someone who sells, provides food and facilities for anyone who wants to break his fast. Surely

this is very disturbing for the worship of Msoslems in running the fasting of Ramadhan. In addition, every

person both Islam and non-Moslems are required to honor the Moslems who are performing fasting, so as

not to eat and drink in front of them.

Related to this problem, one of the ulemas of the Syafi'i sect, Asy-Shaykh Abu Bakr Ad-Dimyathi Asy-

Syafi'i rahimahullah said:

من على والخشب ،محرم لغناء يتخذها من على واألمة طاقتها فوق يكلفها الدابة الدابة كبيع وذلك

وكذا ،رمضان نهار في مكلفا كافرا مكلف مسلم وكإطعام ،لهو آلة يتخذه طعاما بيع ه أنه ظن أو علم

نهارا يأكله

"That is the case (for example, selling goods that can deliver to the sinners) such as selling animals to be burdened over their abilities, female slaves who will be employed for illicit songs, timber for neglected




entertainment tools, mukallaf Muslims feeding infidels mukallaf during the day of Ramadhan, so selling

food to people he knows or thinks he will eat it during the day of Ramadhan" 3

Shaykh Abdul Muhsin al-A'bbad in Syarah Sunan Abu Dawud issued a fatwa on trading laws and selling

food during the day of Ramadhan. Against this issue, Shaykh Abdul Muhsin al-A'bbad in Syarah Sunan

Abu Dawud issued a fatwa on trading laws and selling food at the daytime of Ramadhan: 4

ال يجوز للمسلم أن يبيع الطعام في نهار رمضان ال للمسلمين وال للكفار

"It is not permissible for a Muslim to sell food on the day of Ramadhan both to Muslims and to the

infidels"

In accordance with its legal product type, the fatwa is submitted by a lawyer based on a question

submitted by a person. The fatwa of Shaykh Abdul Muhsin al-A'bbad above was initiated from a person's

question: 5

حكم فتح المطعم في نهار رمضان للمسلم والكافرالسؤال: هناك مسلم صاحب مطعم في فرنسا هل يجوز له أن يبيع فيه في نهار رمضان

ن ال للمسلمين وال للكفارسواء للمسلم أو للكافر؟ الجواب: ال يجوز للمسلم أن يبيع الطعام في نهار رمضا

"The law opens a dining place during Ramadhan's day for Muslims and infidels. Question: In France there are Muslims who have a place to eat, is it possible for him to sell food on the day of Ramadhan to

the Muslims or to the infidels? Answer: It is not permissible for a Muslim to sell food during the day of

Ramadhan both to Muslims and to the infidels"

Besides the fatwa of Sheikh Abdul Muhsin al-A'bbad above, the grand masters of Saudi Arabia also

issued a fatwa on selling food during the daytime of Ramadhan in Fatawi Syabakah Islamiyah. Fatwa

2097: 6

ال يجوز بيع الطعام مأكوال كان أو مشروبا في نهار رمضان لمن يجب عليه الصيام منالمسلمين إذا كان سيستعمله في الوقت المحرم فيه

على اإلثم والعدوان.أما إذا علم من حال المشتري أنهيريد لمن به عذر عليه ألن ذلك تعاون معه على اإلثمقال هللا تعالى: وال تعاونوا

شرعي مانع له من الصيام كالشيخ الفاني والمريض والحائض والصبي ،فال حرج إن شاء هللا في ذلك ، فإذا التبس األمر أو كان الغالب

جماعة من أهل العلم بوجوبإغالق المطاعم في نهار رمضانعلى الظن استعمالهمما ال يجوز له ، فال شك أن حسم األمر أولى ، وقد أفتى

"Must not sell food or drink during the day of Ramadhan for Muslims who are obliged to fast if they know

or suspect (dzon) that the food will be consumed during the day because it is considered to help disobedience. Allah Almighty says: do not you please help in the matter of sin and enmity. If it is known

that the buyer is a person who is prevented from fasting (having an aging not to fast) such as elderly

parents, sick people, menstruating women and children then it is allowed to sell food to those who have aging. If a case is mixed with another or the case is dominantly zhan then decide the mingled case with

one more major decision. Thus the scholars agree on the obligation to close the place to eat during the

day of Ramadhan" .

The fatwa of Syabakah Islamiyah above does not prohibit the sellers to sell food on the daytime of

Ramadhan absolutely. The fatwa of Syabilah Islamiyah above distinguish and specify to whom the sale

and purchase on the daytime of Ramadhan allowed and prohibited are:

It is permissible to sell food to people who are not yet obliged to fast, are unable to fast or are given leniency for not fasting, such as small children, women who are menstruating and people who are sick. So

it is also allowed if the food will be consumed when not fasting, meal of fasting or to have sahur.

3 I’aanatut Thaalibin, 3/30 4 Abdul Muhsin al-Abbad, Syarah Sunan Abi Dawud (Riyadh : King Abdul Aziz, t.t.),Vol.19, p. 24. 5Ibid

6Abdullah al-Faqih, Fatawi al-Syabakah al-Islamiyah (Riyadh : King Abdul Aziz, t.t.), jil 2, h. 640.




It is forbidden to sell food to the person who is required to fast when he knows or think (dzon) that the

food will be consumed during the day because this is considered to help bad deeds. 7

If he does not know whether the food will be consumed during the daytime or not, then the law is makruh

and better not to sell food to that person. That is why some ulemas issued a fatwa to cover food and drink

selling places during the fasting month.

The ban on selling food during Ramadhan day based on the above fatwa, applies to Moslems only. Some

consider that the ban does not apply to kafeers who are not required to fast during Ramadhan. Therefore

they consider the permissibility of selliogn food to the Gentiles during the day of Ramadhan because the

fasting of Ramadhan is only obliged to Muslims alone not to the Gentiles. This is a strong reason for

traders who sell food and drink to the kafeers.

But this reason is not in accordance with the study of jurisprudence in the form of ijtihad from the Islamic

law experts. They assume that the non-fasting non-believers can not be used as an excuse to trade on them

during the day of Ramadhan. Among the law experts who argue are:

Asy-Syaikh Muhammad bin Asy-Syihab Ar-Romli Asy-Syafi’i Rahimahullah:

ية على ن في ذلك إعانة معص ه أل وض أو غير ي في بع م م أن يسقي الذ يحرم على المسل

"Haram upon a Muslim gives a drink to a Gentile who lives in a Muslim country during the day of

Ramadhan, whether by way of sale or by other means, because it means helping in immorality".

Imam Syarwani;

ومثل ذلك إطعام مسلم مكلف كافرا مكلفا في نهار رمضان وكذا بيعه طعاما ما علم أو ظنأنه يأكله نهار

"It is an unlawful act that is a Muslim who mukallaf feed the infidel convert during the day of Ramadhan

as well as sell food to him if he knows or thinks (dz) that the food will be consumed during the day. 8

Abu Bakar Syata’ al-Dimyati:

كافرا مكلفا في نهار رمضان، وكذا بيعه طعاما علم أو ظن أنه يأكلهنهاروكإطعام مسلم مكلف

"Haram is also a Muslim who mukallaf feed the infidel convert during the day of Ramadhan as well as sell

food to him if he knows or think (dzon) that the food will be consumed during the day” 9

Imam Syihabuddin al-ramli

ويؤيد ذلك ما صرحوا به من حرمة بيع الطعام للكافر في نهار رمضان مع أنا ال نتعرض لهإذا وجدناه يأكل أو يشرب

"The scholars made clear again about the prohibition of selling food to the infidels during the day of

Ramadhan because we do not know if we find it in the state of consuming food or drink” 10

Sulaiman bin Mansur al-A’jili al-Azhari:

ك إعانة على م ن في ذل ه أل وض أو غير ي في رمضان بع م يةيحرم على المسلم أن يسقي الذ عص

7 Haasyiatul Jamal ‘ala Syarhi Manhajit Thullaab, 5/226 8Imam Syarwani, Hawasyi Syarwani A’la Tuhfati al-Muhtaj (Beirut : Dar al-Fikr, t.t.), Vol. 4, p. 317. 9 Abu Bakar Syata’ al-Dimyati, I’anah Thalibin (Beirut : Dar al-Fikr, 1992), Vol. 3, p. 30. 10 Imam Syihabddin al-Ramli, Nihayatul Muhtaj (Beirut : Dar Kutub Ilmiyah, t.t.),Vol 5, p. 543.




"It is forbidden for a Muslim to give a zimmi infidel drink in the month of Ramadhan in return or

otherwise because it is a helpful help in bad deeds” 11

Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Daimah

فتح يجوز الالعظيمة، الشرعية المحاذير من فيه فيه؛ لما خدمتهم وال رمضان نهار في المطعم

،وفروعها الشريعة بأصول مخاطبون الكفار أن المطهر الشرع من ،هللا حرم ما على لهم إعانة من

شرطه تحقيق مع ذلك فعل عليهم الواجب وأن اإلسالم أركان من رمضان صيام أن ريب وال

اإلسالم في الدخول وهو

"It is not possible to open a diner during the day of Ramadhan for the kafeers and help them to eat,

because it is forbidden in the Shari'ah, to help them to do what is forbidden by Allah, because it is understood that the kafeers are commanded to practice the tree of shari'ah and its branches, and there is

no doubt that Ramadhan fasting includes the pillars of Islam, so it is mandatory for them to fast by

fulfilling the requirements of fasting, ie converting to Islam"

Ash-Shaykh Al-Faqih Ibn 'Utsaimin rahimahullah :12

ومن ،رمضان أيام في مفتوحة غير للمسلمين وطبعا للكفار ولو المطاعم فتح يجوز ال منكم رأى

عليه وجب رمضان في فتحه مطعم صاحب الجهات يبلغ أن كافر ألي يمكن وال ،لمنعه المسئولة

ذلك من يمنع أن يجب ،المسلمين بالد في رمضان نهار في شربا أو أكال يظهر أن

"It is not possible to open a food stall even for kafeers and of course for Muslims too cannot be opened-during the day of Ramadhan. Anyone who sees the owner of the stall that opens it during the day of

Ramadhan is obligatory for those who see it to report to the authorities (the government) to ban it, and it is not permissible for anyone to reveal the eating and drinking activities during the day of Ramadhan in

the countries Muslim state, obliged to prevent it"13

Based on the ijtihad of the ulemas above, selling to kafeer who are not obliged to fast in Ramadhan do not

influence his abilities, because the law is still illegal. One of the reasons why the ulemas above are trading

to them is helping act in bad deeds.

The bad deeds will be seen when a Moslem who works as a seller opens his dining place devoted to the

kafeers who do not fast. Other Moslems who are fasting and who do not fast will see those who are eating

during Ramadhan at the daytime at the open public dining place. Finally, other Moslems who do not fast

will be affected by them then come to the place of the meal and have lunch with them. Of course, this

situation will be seen by fasting people. They will surely feel very disturbed and annoyed by the kafeers

and Moslems who do not fast and eat in public places.

The ban on selling food during the daytime of Ramadhan, as described above, is based on a fatwa issued

by the syuyukh of Saudi Arabia. In accordance with his legal products, the fatwa is: 14

إجابة السائل عن الحكم الشرعي

"The answer to one's question about sharia law".

11 Sulaiman bin Mansur al-A’jili al-Azhari, Hasyiyah al-Jamal (Beirut : Dar al-Fikr, t.t.), Vol. 5, p. 226. 12 Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Daimah, 9/37 no. 17717 13 Al-Liqo’ Asy-Syahri, no. 8 14Muhammad Mustafa Zuhaili, al-Wajiz Fii Ushul Fiqh al-Islami (Damaskus : Dar al-Khair, 2006), Vol 2, p. 377




This means that the form of a fatwa can be an answer which is begun by a general question of a legal

event, then he asks the question to a more pious person and who better understand about sharia. But the

fatwa is not always the answer of a mufti to someone who asks him, fatwa can be a parrot or legal

explanation of an event experienced by Moslems. This is expressed by Muhammad ibn Husein ibn Hasan

al-Jizani: 15

بيان الحكم الشرعي

"Explanation of sharia law"

Fatwa products in the form of answers to a person's question or explanation of Shari'a are found in both

the fatwa of selling food ban on the daytime of Ramadhan above. First is the fatwa of Shaykh Abdul

Muhsin al-A'bbad in explaining the book of Sunan Abi Dawud which begins from the question of a person

about whether or not for Moslems who have a place for eating to open it on the daytime of Ramadhan.

Fatwa Shaykh Abdul Muhsin al-A'bbad firmly declared to prohibit the selling during the daytime of

Ramadhan.

Both fatwas in the form of bayan or explanations on one sharia. The fatwa in this form comes from the

Grand Masters of Saudi Arabia who also issued a fatwa on selling food during the daytime of Ramadhan

in Fatawi Syabakah Islamiyah no. Fatwa 2097. The fatwa does not forbid the absolute trade on the

daytime of Ramadhan but some buyings and sellings are allowed and there is a forbidden sale on the

daytime of Ramadhan.

The problem is, can a fatwa ban about selling food during the daytime of Ramadhan applied in Indonesia?

Considering in Indonesia there are also many Islamic jurists who master the science of Shari'a in the form

of Fikih and Usul Fikih then Tafseer Science and Science of Hadith. If in Indonesia there are many

Muslim jurists, should Indonesian Moslems ask for a fatwa to the Ulema who come from outside

Indonesia?

To this Imam al-Ghazali argues: 16

إذا لم يكن في البلدة إال مفت واحد وجب على العامي مراجعته وإن كانوا جماعة فله أن يسأل من شاء وال يلزمه مراجعة األعلم كما فعل

في زمان الصحابة

“If in a country there is nothing but a mufti it is obligatory for the ordinary person to ask for his opinion,

but if there is more than a mufti in a country he is not obliged to ask the opinion of the mufti which is more

' Friend”

The statement of Imam al-Ghazali which states nإذا لم يكن في البلدة إال مفت واحد وجب على العامي مراجعتهthe

process of issuing fatwas cannot be derogated from the territorial boundaries between mustafti and mufti

in one region or in one particular country, which affirms even though only a mufti which is in the area or

country then mustafti obliged to ask a fatwa to the mufti. The requirement to request a fatwa on the local

mufti in the country is mentioned by Imam al-Ghazali in the form of a very strong sentence using the

terms of letters which is followed by the letters of nafi (lam) and the answer by using fi'il madhi with the

word wajaba preceded by the letters of istisna, which denotes an exception that cannot be denied or

avoided its existence, in this case, it refers to the mufti which is the only one present in the region or

country, and does not even distinguish or question the religious and scientific qualities the mufti.

15Muhammad bin Husein bin Hasan al-Jizani, Ma’alim Usul Fiqh al-Islami (Mekah : Dar Ibnu Jauzi, 2006), Vol. 1, p. 504. 16Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, al-Mustaşfâ fî I’lmi al-Uşûl, (Beirut: Dâr al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, 1993), p. 373.




Not far different from the opinion of Imam al-Ghazali above, Wahbah Zuhaili also states that a mustafti

should ask a fatwa on mufti that is in the region or in his country, as his expression:17

إذا لم يوجد في بلد إال مفت واحد فعلى العامي سؤاله والرجوع إلي

"If it is not in a country except a mufti then for the layman must ask him and ask for his fatwa"

Thus, Moslems in Indonesia if they want to ask a fatwa about selling food during the daytime of

Ramadhan does not need to ask a mufti originating outside of Indonesia whether Egypt, Saudi Arabia,

Syria and so on enough to ask Islamic jurists who are local citizens and understand the condition his own

country. If a fatwa is issued from a mufti that does not originate from his own country, the authority and

power of a fatwa will not arise, considering the existence of a demand for a mufti to determine the socio

cultural condition of the local community. As Ibnul Qayyim al-Jauziyah asserted: 18

على المفتي أن يرجع إلى العرف في مسائل

"A mufti should have the socio-cultural knowledge of the local community, and at the same time pay

attention to various issues".

Besides Imam Muhyiddin Nawawi, Abu Ishaq al-Syatibi also reveals that the fatwa may have been issued

verbally, and not necessarily by writing, as his expression: 19

وذلك أن الفتوى من المفتي تحصل من جهة القول والفعل واإلقرار

“That the fatwa of a mufti may be in oral form, deed and or confession”

Some Muslims assume that the ban on selling food on the daytime of Ramadhan only applies to Moslems.

In the study of Fikih and Usul Fikih, this ban is not only applicable to Moslems but also applies to kafeers

but are still required to implement the Shari'a. This is revealed by Imam Nawawi in the hearts of 'Syarah

al-Muhazzab:

ار مخاطبون بفروع الشرع يح أن الكف ح فإن المذهب الص

“The correct statement is that the kafeers get the burden (prosecuted) to run Islamic law”

The same thing is also revealed by Imam al-Ghazali in his work of Fikih al-Mankhul:

الكفار مخاطبون بفروع الشريعة

"The kafeers are required to carry the law".

What kafeers means here is required to execute the Shari'a as revealed by Sheikh Harari al-Shafi'i: 20

ا العبادات فهم مخاطبون بها في حق المؤاخذة في اآلخرة اتفاقا الكفار مخاطبون باإليمان والعقوبات والمعامالت إجماعا، أم

"Kafeers are required in the case of faith, uqubat (sanctions), muamalat according to ijma'. As for the demands of worship based on the agreement of their clerics are demanded by obtaining the right of

torture in the hereafter".

17Zuhaili, Uşûl Fiqh al-Islami, Vol. II, p. 1162. 18 Ibnu Qayyim al-Jauziyah, I’lâm al-Muwaqqi’în 'an Rabb al-'Âlamîn(Beirut: Dâr al-Kutub al Ilmiyah, 1996), Vol. IV, p. 175.

184 and 201. 19 Abu Ishaq Syatibi, al-muwâfaqât, (Beirut: Dâr al-Ma’rifah, t.t.), Vol. IV, p. 597. 20 Muhammad al-Amin al-Harari al-Syafi’i, Hadaiqur Rauhi War Raihan (Beirut : Dar Thauq Najah, 2001), Vol. 30, p. 412.




As it is known that in Moslem majority countries, every month of Ramadhan is a special atmosphere,

which is almost no food or drink during the day, as they are generally fasting. Those who do not fast,

because they are stumbled, do not dare to eat/drink in public, in addition to shame, as well as to respect

those who are fasting. Even in many countries there is a call from some people, so that everyone respects

the holy month of Ramadhan and those who are fasting.

It should be understood that the need to respect the fasting person is actually more social moral, not formal

(law). In moral (attitude) and social (society) we must respect those who are fasting, among others are by

not eating or drinking in front of them or not showing that we do not fast for being allowed, or even

because of other religions.

But as formal (law) as long as there is no legal provision that regulates it, the person who does not respect

the person who is fasting as far as the above, cannot be prosecuted legally, in accordance with the rules of

fikih:

يم يد با حتى حة اإل ألشياء فى ألصل ل الدليل علىالتحر

“Basically everything is law permissible if there is no prohibition against it)"

Until now there is no explicit proposition that prohibits people selling food/drinks during the daytime of

Ramadhan. There are three factors that need to be considered to allow people to sell food and drink during

the daytime of Ramadhan:

Some ulemas differ on the law of selling food to non-Moslems. The reason ia whether they include people

who are burdened (being taklif) of shariah or not. Of course it is awkward when non-Moslems are also

required to honor the fasting Muslims. Is not the commandment of fasting obligations only applied to the

Moslems as Allah says in Q.S Al Baqarah Verse 183 which means "O you who believe, is obliged for you

to fast as the people before you carry it out.

Shaykh Salim bin Abdullah, the author of Kashifah as-Saja, explains that there are six people who are

allowed not to fast. They are the sellers, the sick, the elderly, the hungry and the thirsty who can endanger

their lives, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. What if this selling is devoted to them?

The food and beverage seller during the daytime of Ramadhan could be his only attempt to get some

money to support his family or maybe he is just a worker scavenging the fortune of his boss's restaurant.

Therefore, one of these fikih rules may be appropriate to consider in relation to the law of selling food and

drink during the daytime of Ramadhan:

ال ينكر المختلفي و انما ينكر المجمع عليه

la yunkaru al-mukhtalaf fih wa innama yunkar al-mujma' alaih

Something law still disputed scholars do not need to be dealt with.

CONCLUSION

Based on the author discussed in this paper, it can be known that there are some points about the law of

selling food on the daytime of Ramadhan:

It is allowed to sell food to the people who are not yet obliged to fast, are unable to fast or given leniency

for not fasting, such as children, women who are menstruating and people who are sick. And also if the

food will be consumed when not fasting, such as for breaking the fast or for having sahur or selling food

and drinks during the daytime of Ramadhan may be the only effort to get some money to support his

family. It is forbidden to sell food to the person who is required to fast when he knows or think (dzon) that

the food will be consumed during the day because this is considered to help disobedience. If he does not




know whether the food will be consumed during the day or not, then the law is makruh and better not to

sell food to that person. That is why some ulemas issued a fatwa to cover the places of selling food and

drink during the fasting month. Trading or opening a place for eating with a special reason for the kafeers

only, cannot be used as a hujjah to allow the traders or businessmen to sell during the daytime of

Ramadhan because the kafeers are still required to run the Shari'a.

REFERENCES

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Abu Bakar Syata’ al-Dimyati, I’anah Thalibin (Beirut : Dar al-Fikr, 1992), jil 3

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